Author: Paula Pasche

ALLEN PARK — When the Lions last played at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium in 2009, it was a miserable day — cold and pouring rain. It was a homecoming of sorts for then-Lions coach Jim Schwartz. It ended with a 48-3 loss.

A few things have changed since that miserable day including the Lions GM, coach and most of the roster. Daunte Culpepper (two interceptions) was the starting quarterback while rookie Matthew Stafford was on injured reserve.

Sunday’s game is crucial in the Lions’ chances for a wildcard playoff berth. At 6-5, Detroit has won three of its last four and owns a  4-1 record on the road.

Five things to watch on Sunday:

1. The last three games they’ve been behind in the first quarter 10-0, 10-0 and 13-0. They’ve won two of those but on Thanksgiving they could not come back against the Vikings. It’s a concern but there is no magic solution. “We’ve turned the ball over a little bit too much early in the game from multiple factors. We do that better, we’re going to be better offensively and definitely better as a team not putting our defense in tough spots. So, that’s the major point of emphasis for us, it’s protecting the ball early,’’ offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said Thursday.

2. It’s a broken record but it’s important. The run game ranks 30th in the NFL averaging 78.3 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry. Ameer Abdullah (neck) did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday but was back at work on Friday. It’s uncertain if he’ll play on Sunday. If Abdullah is out that would give Theo Riddick more carries and Zach Zenner will have more chances. “We’ve seen improvement from him, he’s really working hard at it,’’ Cooter said of Riddick. “And it is our job to evaluate all those guys and sort of figure out who should get what amount of plays in the game, and carries, and all that stuff, sort of how each guy’s game looks like.’’

3. Now that he’s been back for three games, look for Kenny Golladay to possibly get more balls thrown his way. The rookie is a big-play wide receiver who can stretch the field. “A lot of different stats you can throw around in the league, but creating explosive plays is one of those sort of major offensive successful — leads to successful, leads to wins,’’ Cooter said. “Kenny plays a part in that thing, he does a nice job creating those big plays. Whether it’s just sort of a go-route down the field where he goes up and makes the play, sometimes it’s sort of crossing route type things where he’s crossing the field. He’s a talented young player, he’s getting better at a lot of different things. He’s learning a lot this year, we’re going to keep him moving forward and I believe he’s going to keep helping our team win games.”

4. The Ravens run game must be stopped. This has been a big issue the past three weeks when the Lions defense has allowed a combined 559 yards. That’s an average of a whopping 186 yards per game. Alex Collins (4.9 yards per carry) and Terrance West (3.5 ppc) lead the way for the Ravens’ run game. “(Collins) is always trying to make the extra yards. Got really good vision. But I think really when you look at it up front, they do a good job in terms of they have big people in the interior line. They block you. The tight ends are good blockers,’’ defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said.

5. Matthew Stafford had an off game on Thanksgiving. He rolled his ankle late in the game and it did impact his play. He’s fully healthy and has practiced at full speed all week. The quarterback play is not the concern of this offense, but he needs to be better than against the Vikings. If the Lions could ever establish a run game, Stafford’s game would automatically improve.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Ravens 17

ALLEN PARK — Many of the Lions will be wearing specially painted shoes in the game at the Ravens on “My Cause My Cleats” Sunday.

It won’t be just the players who will be identifying their causes on their footwear.

Coach Jim Caldwell said he was given the option and jumped at it along with several coaches on his staff and general manager Bob Quinn.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

“Mine in particular kind of falls in line with my wife and I’s foundation, Jim and Cheryl Caldwell Foundation. My cleats are for the Midnight Golf Program which is one that’s been in here in the Detroit area for quite some time,’’ Caldwell said on Friday. “Reneé Fluker actually started it, and it’s not playing golf at night just in case anybody wants to know. What they use is they use golf to obviously attract young people and kind of teach them how to live their life around the game of golf. But it’s a mentoring, tutoring sort of initiative that really have several thousand applicants, and they choose 250, or 260, or so. And of those individuals, they follow them through their senior year in high school, help them in terms of going on to college with funding. Once they’re in college, it gives them support mechanisms, and then also after college and starting their careers, internships, etc.

“I had an opportunity to go over for the first time and see the young people that have come out of the program, and it was absolutely, unbelievably impressive and so we got involved in it. So, that’s kind of what we’re going to do wear the shoe for the Midnight Golf Program,’’ Caldwell said. “So, it should be a great time I think for all. I know a number of our players are also wearing cleats for different reasons and different causes. So, I think it’ll be certainly well worthwhile.”

Golden Tate will honor veterans with his cleats, while Matthew Stafford will highlight “S.A.Y. Detroit.” Don Carey reps his own foundation while Tahir Whitehead goes with “Downtown Boxing Gym.”

ALLEN PARK — If Teryl Austin knew how to get his defense off to a better start each game, they wouldn’t have fallen behind in the past three games 10-0, 10-0 and 13-0.

Searching for answers is fine, but the Lions defensive coordinator is also making a few adjustments that have nothing to do with injuries and one that does.

The Lions (6-5) play at the Baltimore Ravens (6-5) on Sunday. It’s a win Detroit needs to keep its playoff chances alive.

Three things to know about defensive changes:

1. Rookie linebacker Jarrad Davis’ snaps have decreased in the past two games. He started playing 100 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 1, got hurt in Week 2 so he was down to 75 percent. Then he missed Weeks 3 and 4 with a concussion and neck injury. The next five games he also played every snap on defense. Then in Week 11, in the win at Chicago, he was down to 78 percent of the snaps and last week, in the loss to the Vikings, he was at 73 percent.

Austin explained the decision on Thursday.

“I think that the reason it was scaled back is because we thought again like anything, thought Tahir (Whitehead) was doing really well in terms of how he was handling the coverage. So, we wanted to put, like anything, whatever we think is the best for us to win that game,’’ Austin said. “And so, at that point, we’re looking to win the game. At this point in the season we want him to develop, but we can’t have him develop at the chance that we’re setting a guy that could probably do that position better at this particular time.

“And Jarrad will get better because he’s working at it. He’s getting reps in practice. But right now we think in some of those positions that Tahir is going to be a better fit for us right now,’’ he added.

In other words, they are not giving up on Davis, their first-round pick. At this point they have to put guys on the field who will give them the best chance to win.

2. Due to Tavon Wilson being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, Miles Killebrew will get his third start this season. Killebrew, a second-year safety, has excelled at times playing in certain defensive packages but he appreciated the invaluable experience of starting in Weeks 2 and 3. He’s ready. He said the safeties play a variety of roles during practice so he will be comfortable on the field.

“With a guy who’s a backup and everybody wants him to be the starter, and then when he’s a starter maybe he’s not as effective as you thought he was because now he’s playing 60 plays instead of 20. So, it’s an adjustment,’’ Austin said. “But in Miles’ case he has had a few games when he’s had to start, and he’s had to play a lot of plays. So, I think he’ll adjust to that accordingly.”

3. Expect to see newly acquired defensive end Dwight Freeney get in the game Sunday.

“Since he’s been here, Dwight’s the ultimate pro. Really sharp, understands what’s going on, and we’ll be looking to use him, so the impressions are good,’’ Austin said. “He’s bright, we all know what he’s done in the past. Are we going to get the 24-year-old Dwight? No, but we still think he’s got some juice and the ability to rush the passer.”

Freeney and Austin go back to when Freeney was in tenth grade and attended football camps at Syracuse where Austin was a defensive assistant. Then in Freeney’s  freshman year at Syracuse in 1998 when Austin was still on the coaching staff.

Freeney was acquired last week off waivers from Seattle. Since he had played on Monday night with the Seahawks, he didn’t have enough turn-around time to play on Thanksgiving.

Freeney also goes back with Jim Caldwell when they were both with the Indianapolis Colts.